Embroidery data creating device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an embroidery data creating device for creating an embroidery data to be used by a sewing machine. In the embroidery data creating device, an image data, which consists of a plurality of pixel data, corresponding to a line-drawn image is converted into a thin line image, and then closed paths are determined with use of 8-connection method. After embroidery attribution is applied to a path and/or a region defined by each closed path, the paths and/or the regions are converted into the embroidery data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an embroidery data creating device forprocessing an outline data of an original image to create an embroiderydata corresponding to the original image.

Presently, there are data creating devices that create embroidery datafor use with industrial sewing machines. These data creating devices arecomputer controlled and are capable of creating high-accuracy embroiderydata in a relatively short period of time. Usually these data creatingdevices are provided with a computer, an image scanner, a hard diskdrive, and a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, etc.

Recently, as the performance of personal sewing machines has improved,an embroidery data creating device for use with the personal sewingmachine has been sought to satisfy an expanding demand. However, thedata creating devices for the industrial sewing machines arecomplicated, expensive, and are not easy to operate for personal use.Therefore, an inexpensive, easily operable data creating device has beendesired. Preferably, such devices are capable of creating embroiderydata based on an original, e.g., a freehand line-drawn image drawn on asheet of paper.

The conventional embroidery data creating devices do not have such afunction, and therefore the operator traces an image, which is scannedby the image scanner and displayed on the CRT, with a mouse or the like.Alternatively, a digitizer or the like to create the digital data of theimage to the computer should be used. In order to create thehigh-accuracy embroidery data for stitching a good looking embroidery, aplurality of paths of stitching, and closed regions to be filled withstitches as well as their positions and shapes should be input to thecomputer.

An embroidery data creating device, which automatically creates theembroidery data, for personal use was disclosed in Japanese PatentProvisional Publication HEI4-174699. The disclosed data creating deviceis provided with a microcomputer, a small display device, and akeyboard. The device is connected with a monochrome (e.g. black andwhite) image scanner, and creates the embroidery data as describedbelow.

In this device, firstly the original image is scanned with use of thescanner. Then the scanned image is displayed on the display device. Ifthe displayed image have the desired shape, the embroidery datacorresponding to the displayed image is created.

In the embroidery data creating devices of the former type, the operatoris required to designate a path of each stitch of the embroidery or totrace the displayed image manually and accurately. It is time consuming,and the larger the image is, the longer time is consumed.

In the embroidery data creating devices of the latter type, theembroidery data creating devices usually deal with a colored image, anddo not have a function of processing an outline image or the line-drawnimage. Therefore, the embroidery data crating devices of the latter typecannot create sufficient embroidery data, and accordingly the beautifulembroidery may not be produced with use of the embroidery data createdbased on the line-drawn image. That is, in order to have threads filledin areas defined by the outlines of an image, besides the data for theoutlines, another data for the filled portion should be preparedseparately. Therefore, in the latter devices, if a line-drawn image isused as an original data, it is difficult to have sufficient embroiderydata.

Generally, there are two methods for dealing with an image pattern,i.e., for scanning the image pattern to generate an image data, andcreating the embroidery data based on the image data. First one is toobtain a bit map image by scanning an original image. Then stitchingpoints are determined based on the bit map image. The other one is topick up an outline data (path data) by scanning the image pattern.

Assume that an image shown in FIG. 16A is to be dealt with (i.e., is tobe scanned and then an embroidery data is to be created). With use ofthe former method, scanning of the image can be achieved relativelyeasily. However, the stitch usually has only one predetermineddirection, and therefore, if the embroidery data creating in accordancewith the former method is used for producing the actual embroidery, theproduced embroidery would be as shown in FIG. 16B, and the good lookingembroidery may not be obtained. Further, in this method, it is difficultto obtain the data indicating application of various methods ofstitching to improve an appearance of the embroidery. In order to avoidthis problem, a complicated geometric analysis should be made when theimage is scanned, and practically it is almost impossible.

According to the latter method, the outline of the image pattern isobtained according to an edge detection algorithm. Since the outlinesdefining the regions are obtained, the embroidery data for an regiondefined by the obtained outline data can be made relatively easily.However, if a region defined by an outline has an elongated shape, it isdifficult for a processor (e.g., a CPU) to recognize the direction inwhich the region is elongated. Generally, when a region is to be filledwith a thread, the direction of stitching is fixed. If the elongateddirection of the region can be determined, it may be possible to changethe stitching direction in accordance with the elongated direction.However, since the elongated direction of the region is not easy toobtaine, the fixed direction is to be referred to in order to create theembroidery data for such a region. As a result, if the stichingdirection is not appropriate for such an elongated region, theembroidery produced in accordance with the embroidery data created withuse of the fixed stitching direction may not be sufficiently beautiful(see portions “NG” in FIG. 16B). To avoid the problem, variousalgorithms for automatically determining the direction of the stitchhave been suggested. However, sufficient result is not obtained yet, andfurther a large amount of calculation is required in such algorithms.Therefore, the latter method is not applicable to the inexpensivepersonal use embroidery data creating device.

Further, even if the image pattern to be scanned is an outline imagelike coloring pictures for children, when it is scanned by the scanner,the obtained image data of the outline has a certain width (i.e., theline is recognized as a two-dimensional area). Therefore, when the imagedata is processed and the edge of the outline is detected, two outlinesare detected at the both ends of the image of the outline as indicatedin FIG. 16C. Since the outline is recognized as an area, even if theoriginal is a line-drawn image, it is difficult to assign various methodof stitching a line such as a run-stitch, a zigzag stitch, an E stitchand the like.

Therefore, it is not preferable to detect a plurality of lines (i.e.,paths of stitching) for a single outline as described above. Preferably,only one path for one line of the original line-drawn image is to beobtained. For this demand, a thinning method which is known as one ofthe image data processing methods can be used. If a thin line obtainedin the thinning method is used as a line defining the path of stitching,the run-stitch, the zigzag stitch, the E stitch and the like can befreely applied (see FIG. 16D). For example, the width of the zigzag caneasily be set and/or adjusted if the single thin line is used fordefining the paths and/or regions of the embroidery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an embroidery data creatingdevice capable of creating an embroidery data based on a simpleline-drawn original image pattern, and assigning various types ofstitching to the paths and regions. Note that a region of the imagepattern can be represented with a single path automatically withoutrequiring an operator to trace the line-drawn image manually.

For the above object, according to the invention, there is provided anembroidery data creating device for creating an embroidery data to beused by a sewing machine, the embroidery data creating device comprisingmeans for storing an image data corresponding to a line-drawn image,means for obtaining a thin line image based on the image data, means fordetermining closed paths based on the thin line image, means forselecting at least one of a path and a region defined by the path foreach of the closed paths determined by the determining means, and meansfor converting the at least one of the path and the region defined bythe path into the embroidery data.

Optionally, the converting means comprises means for assigning anattribution to the at least one of the path and the region defined bythe path when conversion is executed.

The attribution may be a type of stitch, a color of thread, a pitch ofeach stitch, a density of stitches and/or a direction of stitch forembroidering.

Further optionally, the image data is a bit map image data may consistof data for a plurality of pixels, and a pixel connectivity of the thinline obtained by the obtaining means is four or eight.

Furthermore, the determining means may convert the thin line image intoa chain of connected vectors, the closed path being defined as a pathsurrounded by the chain of connected vectors.

Still optionally, the embroidery data creating device may store theembroidery data in a memory means. In this case, the memory means can bea detachable card memory.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an appearance of an embroidery data creating device,according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the embroidery data creating device shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a sewing machine which uses the embroidery data created bythe embroidery data creating device;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation for creating theembroidery data;

FIG. 5 shows an example of an original pattern for creating theembroidery data;

FIG. 6 shows a bit map image corresponding to the scanned data;

FIGS. 7 shows a bit map image corresponding to the image data to whichthe thinning operation is applied;

FIG. 8 shows an example of a short vector data;

FIGS. 9A through 9G show selection of loops based on the thin lineimage;

FIG. 10 is a screen image which is displayed when the attribution isapplied to a loop;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the attribute setting procedure;

FIG. 12 shows data storing areas of RAM;

FIG. 13 is an example of an embroidery embroidered in accordance withthe embroidery data, created by the embroidery creating device;

FIG. 14 shows a data structure of the embroidery data stored in theflash memory card;

FIG. 15 is a screen image for setting various attribution data at atime;

FIGS. 16A, 16B and 16C are exemplary images for illustrating problems ofprior art; and

FIG. 16D is an image illustrating the embroidery which is procuded inaccordance with the embroidery data crated by the embroidery creatingdevice according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an embroidery data creating device 100 according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a blockdiagram of the embroidery data creating device shown in FIG. 1.

The data created by the embroidery data creating device 100 is used in apersonal sewing machine, an example of which is shown in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3, an embroidery sewing machine 40 is constructed such that acloth is moved in X and Y directions by a horizontal moving mechanism41. An embroidered pattern is formed on the cloth by stitching thread(moving the needle) while the cloth is being moved in X and Ydirections.

The sewing operation and the driving operation of the horizontal drivingmechanism 41 are controlled by a microcomputer built in the sewingmachine 40 (not shown). The sewing machine 40 has a card insertion unit43 to which a card memory (flash memory) 10 is to be inserted. Theembroidery data is supplied from the card memory 10. Since theembroidery data indicates the amount of movement in X and Y directionsfor every stitch, the embroidered pattern can be automatically produced(sewn). The embroidery data creating device according to the presentinvention creates the data to be stored in the card memory 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the embroidery data creating device 100 has a mainbody 1 and an image scanner 12 connected to the main body 1. The topsurface of the main body 1 has an LCD (liquid crystal display) 7. TheLCD 7 has a screen 7a for displaying a scanned image scanned by thescanner 12, and the embroidery areas. A flash memory device 5 isprovided on the front side surface of the main body 1. The flash memory10, which is used as a recording medium of the embroidery data isdetachably inserted into the flash memory device 5. Further, operationkeys 11 for inputting selection and/or commands is provided on the topsurface of the main body 1. In the embodiment, there are three operationkeys: a region change key 11a; a fill stitch setting key 11b; and a pathstitch setting key 11c.

As shown in FIG. 2, the embroidery data creating device 100 has a CPU 2,a ROM 3, a RAM 4, the flash memory device 5, and an I/O interface 6,which are connected with each other through a bus line. A VRAM 9 isconnected to an LCD controller (LCDC) 8 which controls the display onthe screen 7a in accordance with a bit-map stored in the VRAM 9. Underthe control of the LCD controller 8, the LCD 7 displays a monochrome(black and white) image on the screen 7a thereof. The image scanner 12is connected to the CPU 2 through the I/O interface 6.

The image scanner 12 is a monochromatic hand-held scanner that is movedby an operator across an image to be scanned. When the reading sectionof the scanner 12 faces the image, and is moved along a certaindirection while a reading button is depressed, the scanner 12 scans theimage and creates binarized (ON or OFF) bit map image data. Thebinarized data is stored in a image data storing area 4a of the RAM 4 asa raster formatted bit-map having a value of 0 when a correspondingpixel is white, and a value 1 when a corresponding pixel is black.

The embroidery creating device 100 creates the embroidery data based onthe original as shown in FIG. 5. The data creating operation is storedin the ROM 3 as a program. The operation will be illustrated withreference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 4. Prior to the data creatingoperation, an operator prepares an original as shown in FIG. 5. Theoriginal is a line-drawn image pattern which is drawn, for example, withuse of a black pen on a sheet of white paper.

The process shown in FIG. 4 starts when the operator operates apredetermined key on the main body 1. After the process of FIG. 4 hasstarted, the original image pattern A shown in FIG. 5 is read with useof the scanner 12. The binarized bit map image data of the image patternA is stored in the image data storing area 4a of the RAM 4.

FIG. 6 is an image corresponding to the binarized image data stored inthe image data storing area 4a of the RAM 4. The image shown in FIG. 6consists of a plurality of black square pixels indicative of digitizedimage pixels. The black squares correspond to the data having value “1”in the image data storing area 4a.

In step S2, the thinning operation is applied to the binarized imagedata stored in the image storing area 4a of the RAM 4 to create a thinline image data corresponding to the image pattern A shown in FIG. 5. Asdescribed before, and as shown in FIG. 6, the outline of the bit mapimage directly produced by scanning the original image pattern has acertain width (i.e., more than one pixel are arranged in the widthdirection of the outline of the bit map image shown in FIG. 6).Therefore, the bit map data is not dealt with as a data indicative of asingle line. The thinning operation executed at step S2 enables the datacreating device 100 to deal with the image pattern A as a pattern formedwith lines.

As practical methods for achieving the thinning of the binarized bit mapimage, a plurality of methods are well-known. For example, a sequentialthinning method is known. According to the sequential thinning method,firstly a closed region is defined as a region in which black pixels areconnected with each other. Then, pixels located at the outer sideportion of the closed region are sequentially deleted according to apredetermined rule until no more pixels can be deleted. The rule fordeleting the pixel will not be described in detail since there arevarious methods which are all well-known. Any method can be taken if thewidth of the line is reduced to one pixel. One well-known example ofsuch methods is a Hilditch method which converts the closed regionconsisting of a plurality of connected black pixels into an 8-connectedline.

FIG. 7 shows a part of the line image converted from the binarized bitmap image with used of the thinning operation. In FIG. 7, the8-connected line image is shown.

At step S3, the line-drawn image corresponding to the image pattern A isconverted into chains of line data respectively having lengths anddirection. That is, the line-drawn image is converted into a set ofshort vector data (i.e., vectorization is executed) at S3. As a methodof vectorization, for example, a pixel (any pixel) forming theline-drawn image is determined to be a starting point, and by samplinganother pixel along the line forming the line-drawn image, a vector isobtained. As another example, a reference vector is determined, and byevaluating the difference between the reference vector and a certainpoint, significant points can be determined.

An example of the vectorization is disclosed in the Japanese PatentProvisional Publication HEI 8-38756, and detail description will not beprovided here.

FIG. 8 is an example of the short vector data. In the drawing, big blackdots are diverging points where more than two short vectors areconnected, and small black dots represent structural points where endpoints of two short vectors are connected. By executing step S3, theshape of the original image pattern A is expressed as a two dimensionalgraph consisting of short vectors.

In step S4, based on the short vectors, a loop formed by the chain ofthe short vectors is picked up. The loop is a closed path formed by achain of short vectors, the closed path being non-dense with respect toeach other in the graph. Each loop (i.e., the closed path) picked up inthis step S4 defines the closed region for stitching embroidery. Theloop is picked up in accordance with the following procedure.

-   -   (1) Select the uppermost point defining short vectors in the        graph, and set the selected point as a starting point Ps of the        loop (closed path);    -   (2) Select a path directed to a left-handed direction with        respect to the proceeding direction among a plurality of paths        from the starting point to next points, and trance the path in        the left-hand direction;    -   (3) Trace the path and memorize the traced path until the traced        path returned to the starting point Ps: at a diverging point,        the left-hand direction with respect to the proceeding direction        is always selected;    -   (4) When the path returns to the starting point Ps, select a        chain of the paths which have been stored until then as a new        loop. Then, among the paths connected to the diverging points        next to the starting point, the points belonging to the new loop        are removed from the graph.    -   (5) If the graph is not empty, execute the above process from        step (1).

FIGS. 9A through 9G show the above described procedure of selecting theloop.

In FIGS. 9A through 9G, marks X indicate the starting point Ps for eachdrawing, and arrows indicate the direction in which the paths aretraced.

As shown in FIGS. 9A through 9G, seven loops L1 through L7 are selected.For simplifying the explanation, processing of a path having an open endis not described in the above explanation. If the line-drawn imageincludes a path having an open end, the above-described procedure fordetermining the closed loops is executed after such a path having theopen end is removed from the graph. Between FIGS. 9E and 9F, the removalof the open end is executed, i.e., lines forming the stem of the flower(image pattern A) are deleted from the graph.

The loops L1 through L7 respectively consist of chains of short vectorsrepresenting closed regions (hatched portions of FIGS. 9A through 9G)which are to be embroidered.

In step S5 of FIG. 4, for each of the loops L1 through L7, attributionof the embroidery is determined. Items to be determined are, forexample, the color of threads to be used for stitching the regionsurrounded by the path, what type of stitch is used for embroidering,whether the line stitch is to be made along the path, and the like.

In order to set the above items, each loop is displayed on the screen 7aone by one, and in response to the operation of the keys 11, the settingis applied to each loop (path and region).

FIG. 10 shows an exemplary screen image when the above setting operationis performed. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the attribute settingprocedure.

When the attribution is set, firstly the CPU 2 selects the uppermostregion, i.e., the region defined by the loop L1 (FIG. 9A) as the regionto which the attribution is applied (S51). In order to indicated whichregion is currently subjected to the attribution setting, the CPU 2controls the region to blink (S52) on the screen 7a. For example, a casewhere the region defined by the loop L1 is filled with red stitchwithout stitching of the outline is explained.

Firstly, the operator depress the fill key 11b. Upon every depression ofthe fill key 11b, the setting to be applied to the indicated region ischanged cyclicly from “without fill”, “black fill”, “red fill”, “greenfill”, “yellow fill” and back to “without fill”. In order to select the“red fill”, the fill key 11b is to be depressed twice. Step S53determines whether the region changing key 11a is depressed. Therefore,when the fill key 11b is depressed first, determination at step S53 isNO and control goes to step S55. At S55, whether the fill key 11b isdepressed is examined. Therefore, determination at S55 is YES, and S56is executed. At S56, as described above, the setting is changed. Whenthe fill key 11b is depressed first time, “black fill” is selected.

Operation of the outline designation key 11c switches the setting of thestitch of the outline from “no-outline stitch”, “black outline stitch”,“red outline stitch”, “green outline stitch”, “yellow outline stitch” inthis order, cyclicly (S57:YES and S58). Further operation of the outlinedesignation key 11c brings the setting back to the “no-outline stitch”.In the above described example, “no-outline stitch” is to be made. Theinitial setting is the “no-outline stitch”, and therefore, the outlinedesignation key 11c is not necessary to be operated (S57:NO). Thesetting of the outline stitch is indicated by a pair of cocentriccircles with inner one being filled, on the screen 7a as shown in FIG.10. The name of the item currently being set blinks on the screen 7a. Inthe embodiment, the outline is sewn with the zigzag stitch which is adefault stitch.

In order to set the attribution of another region, the operator isrequired to operate the region change key 11a. When the region changekey 11a is operated (S53:YES), another closed region, i.e., the regiondefined by the loop L2 in the embodiment, is selected (the region blinkson the screen 7a). In order to set “red fill” and “no outline”, the fillkey 11b is depressed twice (S55:YES and S56) as is done for the firstregion defined by the loop L1.

When the region switch key 11a is operated again (S53: YES), anotherregion defined by the loop L3 is selected (S54). As the region definedby the loop L3 is selected, it blinks on the screen 7a (S52). In theexample, the region defined by the loop L3 is to be set to be filledwith yellow with black outline. For this setting, firstly the fill key11b is operated three times to select yellow fill (S53:YES and S53).Then, the outline designation key 11c is operated once to set the blackoutline (S57:YES and S58).

Similar operations are repeatedly executed until setting for all theregions corresponding to the loop L1 through L8 are completed. After thesetting for the region defined by the loop L7 is finished, when theregion change key 11c is operated again (S53:YES and S59:YES), theattribution setting operation is finished.

The settings are stored in the sewing condition storing area 4b of theRAM 4 as shown in FIG. 12. The sewing condition (i.e., the settings) arerepresented by numeral values for the outline and the region surroundedby the outline. The colors of stitch are represented by the followingnumerals.

type of stitch numeral No stitch 0 Black stitch 1 Red stitch 2 Greenstitch 3 Yellow stitch 4

Therefore, the data stored in the sewing condition storing area 4brepresents the setting as follows.

loop L1 Fill (Red) No outline loop L2 Fill (Red) No outline loop L3 Fill(Yellow) Outline (Black) loop L4 Fill (Red) No outline loop L5 Fill(Red) No outline loop L6 Fill (Green) Outline (Black) loop L7 Fill(Green) Outline (Black)

Note that among the line-drawn image patterns, a stem part is notexpressed by the short vector loop. The data corresponding to this partis not described in detail since the creating of the data correspondingto the part which is not expressed with use of short vectors is doneaccording to another algorithm, and the embroidery data for such a partis created to have a predetermined type of stitch.

In the above described example, there is only one image in the original.If there are more than one images, each image is divided into the closedregions similarly to the above-described example, and the setting isdone for each closed region.

By step S5 of FIG. 4, the regions of the image to be embroidered aredetermined. In step S6, the settings are converted into the embroiderydata for use in sewing machines. That is, from the shape of each part orregion of the image, stitching points data is created. For example, inorder to create the embroidery data for a region to be filled, stitchingpoints for filling the region which is defined by an outline, i.e., aloop formed by short vectors is sequentially created. An example of amethod for creating the stitching points is described in the U.S. Pat.No. 5,181,176, and teachings of which are expressly incorporated hereinby reference.

For a path, along which a line stitch is produced, the stitching pointsdata are created such that the stitching points are apart by apredetermined amount along the path. The color of the thread to be usedfor each region is stored as a thread color data in the flash memory 10as shown in FIG. 14 through the flash memory device 5 together with thestitching points data. As shown in FIG. 14, the embroidery data includesthe number of the stitching points (D1), a color code (D2) indicatingthe color of the thread, X and Y coordinates (D3) of each stitchingpoint are stored for each stitch of the embroidery.

The embroidery data created as described above and stored in the flashmemory 10 can be used in the sewing machine 40 as shown in FIG. 3. InFIG. 13, an example of the embroidery stitched by the sewing machine 40in accordance with the embroidery data created as above is shown. Sincethe sewing machine 40 has a black and white display 46, the name of thecolor of a thread to be used is displayed. If the sewing machine has acolor display device, it is possible to indicate the color of the threadby displaying the actual color.

According to the embroidery data creating device as described above, thethinning operation is performed with respect to a scanned line data, andfurther the line data is converted into a vector data. Since the vectordata indicates the direction where each portion of the outline extends,when a region enclosed by an outline is elongated, the elongateddirection can be recognized easily. As described before, in the priorart, since the elongated direction of the elongated region is not easilyobtained, the direction of the stitch cannot be determinedappropriately. According to the present invention, as the direction ofthe elongated region can be obtained, the direction of stitches forfilling the region can be determined in accordance with the elongateddirection. Therefore, according to the embroidery data creating devicedescribed above, a freely drawn line image can be used as an originalfor creating an embroidery data. The line-drawn image is automaticallydivided into a plurality of closed regions, and sewing condition can beset for each closed regions easily. No extra operation such as manualtracing for generating data to be input to a computer is necessary, andtherefore an operator can obtain the desired embroidery data withoutparticular knowledge of the data creating algorithm and/or particularskill therefor.

In the embodiment, the image scanner 12 is a monochrome scanner, and thecolor is assigned to each closed region on the screen after the imagehas scanned. However, it is also possible to use a color scanner to scana color image, and used the color of the original image for designatingthe color of the embroidery data.

Further, when a color scanner is used, the embroidery data creatingdevice is configured such that only images having a certain color areprocessed. That is, only a part of the image having a predeterminedcolor can be made into the embroidery data.

The original data is not limited to the data input from the scanner. Theoriginal data may be given through a floppy disk, a card memory, throughcommunication lines, and the like.

In the embodiment, the thin line image is vectorized and then the loopsare determined. Picking up of the loops may be performed with referenceto a bit map image without vectorizing the image data.

Further, in step S5 of FIG. 4, the embodiment can be modified such thatthe sewing condition can be set in more detailed manner. For example,the number of types of the embroidery, the density of the stitching, thedirection of the stitching, the pitch of the stitching are madeadjustable. In such a case, it is preferable to show a window menu asshown in FIG. 15. The operator can easily set various items with use ofthe window shown in FIG. 15. The settings are fixed when the operatorselects the set button in the window.

In the embodiment, a hand held scanner is employed. However, theinvention is not limited to the described embodiment, but can bemodified in various way. For example, instead of the hand held scanner,a desk top scanner can be employed. In the embodiment, in order tochange the region to which the attribute is assigned the region changekey is to be operated. It is possible to designate the region directlyif the embroidery data creating device is provided with a pointingdevice such as a mouse. In this case, designation of region is performedquickly and the operability of the embroidery data creating device mayimprove.

Further, the created embroidery data is transmitted to the sewingmachine by means of the flash memory. If there is means for connectingthe sewing machine and the embroidery data creating device directly(wired or wireless), the created embroidery data can be used without therecording medium such as the flash memory.

The present disclosure relates to subject matters contained in JapanesePatent Applications No. HEI 7-224965, filed on Sep. 1, 1995, and No. HEI8-102286, filed on Apr. 24, 1996, which are expressly incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

1. An embroidery data creating device for creating embroidery data to beused by a sewing machine, said embroidery data creating devicecomprising: means for storing image data corresponding to a line-drawnimage; means for applying a thinning operation to said image data toobtain a thin line image; means for determining closed paths based onsaid thin line image; means for selecting at least one of a path and aregion defined by said path for each of said closed paths determined bysaid determining means; and means for converting said at least one ofsaid path and said region defined by said path into said embroiderydata.
 2. The embroidery data creating device according to claim 1,wherein said converting means comprises means for assigning anattribution to said at least one of said path and said region defined bysaid path when conversion is executed.
 3. The embroidery data creatingdevice according to claim 2, wherein said attribution includes a type ofstitch to be used for producing an embroidery.
 4. The embroidery datacreating device according to claim 2, wherein said attribution includesa color of thread to be used for producing an embroidery.
 5. Theembroidery data creating device according to claim 2, wherein saidattribution includes a pitch of each stitch for embroidering.
 6. Theembroidery data creating device according to claim 2, wherein saidattribution includes a density of stitches for embroidering.
 7. Theembroidery data creating device according to claim 2, wherein saidattribution includes a direction of stitch for embroidering.
 8. Theembroidery data creating device according to claim 1, wherein said imagedata is bit map image data consisting of data for a plurality of pixels,and wherein a pixel connectivity of said thin line obtained by saidobtaining applying means is eight.
 9. The embroidery data creatingdevice according to claim 1, wherein said determining means convertssaid thin line image into a chain of connected vectors, said closed pathbeing defined as a path surrounded by said chain of connected vectors.10. The embroidery data creating device according to claim 1, furthercomprising means for storing said embroidery data in a memory means. 11.The embroidery data creating device according to claim 10, wherein saidmemory means is a detachable card memory.
 12. The embroidery datacreating device according to claim 1, wherein said determining meanstraces a path from a predetermined point along a predetermineddirection, and if said predetermined point is reached during the tracingof said path, said determining means determines that said path is aclosed path.
 13. The embroidery data creating device according to claim1, wherein said means for selecting includes means for displaying saidpath and said region.
 14. A method for creating embroidery data to beused by a sewing machine, said method comprising the steps of: storingimage data corresponding to a line-drawn image; applying a thinningoperation to said image data to obtain a thin line image; determiningclosed paths based on said thin line image; selecting at least one of apath and a region defined by said path for each of said determinedclosed paths; and converting said at least one of said path and saidregion defined by said path into said embroidery data.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 14 wherein said determining step includes tracing apath from a predetermined point along a predetermined direction, and ifsaid predetermined point is reached during the tracing of said path,making a determination that said path is a closed path.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 15 wherein said determining step further includesconverting said thin line image into a chain of connected vectors, saidclosed path being defined as a path surrounded by said chain ofconnected vectors.
 17. A computer readable memory medium for a computerprogram, said memory medium comprising a computer program, said computerprogram providing a method for creating embroidery data to be used by asewing machine comprising the steps of: storing image data correspondingto a line-drawn image; applying a thinning operation to said image datato obtain a thin line image; determining closed paths based on said thinline image; selecting at least one of a path and a region defined bysaid path for each of said determined closed paths; and converting saidat least one of said path and said region defined by said path into saidembroidery data.
 18. The computer readable memory medium of claim 17wherein in said method provided by said computer program saiddetermining step includes tracing a path from a predetermined pointalong a predetermined direction, and if said predetermined point isreached during the tracing of said path, making a determination thatsaid path is a closed path.
 19. The computer readable memory medium ofclaim 18 wherein in said method provided by said computer program saiddetermining step further includes converting said thin line image into achain of connected vectors, said closed path being defined as a pathsurrounded by said chain of connected vectors.
 20. An embroidery dataprocessor for preparing sewing data of an embroidery pattern based onimage data of the embroidery pattern, the embroidery data processorreducing thickness of lines in the image data to produce thin-line imagedata including at least one thin-line outline defining a bounded regioncorresponding to a region of the embroidery pattern, and extracting thebounded region defined by the at least one thin-line outline.
 21. Amethod for preparing sewing data of an embroidery pattern based on imagedata of the embroidery pattern comprising: reducing thickness of linesin the image data to produce thin-line image data including at least onethin-line outline that defines a bounded region corresponding to aregion of the embroidery pattern; and extracting the bounded regiondefined by the at least one thin-line outline.